Scale for the determination of the moisture content of solid bodies



Oct. 24, 1950 F. HAAB 2,527,187

SCALE FOR mi; D RMINATIoN OF THE mozswuns CONTE 0F soup BODIES FiledAug. 26, 1947 FRED HAAB INVENTOR ATTORNE i atented Oct. 24,

SCALE FOR THE DETERMINATION THE MOISTURE CONTENT OF SOLID BODIES FredHaab, Milan, Italy, assignor to firm; Fratelli Buehler, Milan, ItalyApplication August 26, 1947, Serial No. 770,713 In Italy August 9, 1946Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires August 9, 19661 Claim.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for measuring the moisturecontent in solid bodies and particularly in cereals in general.

The apparatus of the present invention differs from those already known,wherein the separation of moisture from the solid, is effected by meansof heat, and the weight-loss thereafter measured, in that the featuresof heat source, transmissio means, the sample tank, and the measuringapparatus are contained in a single unit so as to ensure goodoperational conditions being maintained at all times. Thus the severalconditions which are liable to produce error as, for example, varyingroom conditions such as temperature, humidity, air currents, and thespeed of operation, are eliminated, whilst the present invention willpermit of an increased drying-up temperature of the products; thusreducing the period of time involved to effect the same result.

The scale according to the present invention is characterised by avertically displaceable drying-chamber into which penetrates one end ofa rod to sustain the plate for the dried material, when the dryingchamber is lowered, the other end of said rod projecting downwardly tosupport the moist material, an indicator being yoked to the rodintermediate of its ends.

In one embodiment of the invention, illustrated by Way of example in theaccompanying drawing, the apparatus consists of a supporting tripod I,provided with adjusting screws for the true levelling of a central body2 containing the measuring device, and a thermostatic drier 3 consistingof an insulated metal box provided with heating elements not shown forthe sake of clarity.

In the base of the drier, three holes are provided for the passagetherethrough of the trident end 4 of the rod 5. On this trident endrests the plate 8 on which is placed the sample to be examined, the saidplate being suspended by suitabl lowering the drier 3. Whilst thissimple mechanical movement requires no special mechanism and may beperformed by manual means, there is here illustrated, by way of exampleand not of limitation, one arrangement for conveniently raising andlowering the drier 3.

The oven or drier 3 rests upon cylindrical supporting columns ID, ID,which are slidably disposed within suitable sleeves H, H. From a lateralwall of oven 3 projects a rotata'bly mounted shaft or rod l2, near theouter extremity of which is affixed eccentric l3. A driving cord [4 ispartly coiled about the peripher of eccentric I3 and passes through awell l5 to any convenient point of control.

In the drawing, for the sake of clarity, oven 3 is shown in raisedposition, but normally the nethermost surface of eccentric I3 will restagainst the upper extremity of well l5 and oven 3 Will assume the lowestpossible corresponding position, under the influence of gravitationalattraction. When cord i4 is forcibly retracted, rotation of eccentric l3will thereby be brought about. This will elevate rod I2, thereby causingoven 3 to be raised against gravity, whilst columns Ill, Illcorrespondingly emerge upwardly through sleeves H, H. The lid of driercarries a vent 6 for the outlet of the steam generated from the sampleduring its drying-up. The moisture percentage may be read from asuitably graduated dial it.

It has frequently been found that when a sample has been Weighed beforedrying upon a given balance and then Weighed after drying upon adifferent balance, an error of either balance may be unnoticed. B theinstant invention it becomes possible to utilize a single balance forthe performance of both weighings, thus automatically compensating forfixed or temporary balance faults, an advantage not presented by priorart devices of this general type.

To accomplish this desirable result, there is provided, at or near thenethermost extremity of rod 5, a second plate, or sample pan, 8, uponwhich a moist sample may be placed, and the weight thereof determined atan instant when the oven is in a lowered position, in which position theupper pan 8 has ceased to be dependent or acting upon any portion of theweighing system proper, as hereinafter described in detail.

The rod 5 has a knife-edge engagement with the yoke 1 of the indicatingdevice, and it will be apparent that the said rod will support both, thelower plate 8 and the plate 8' located in the drier 3, when said dryingchamber is lowered to cause the plate 8' to be lifted from its supports9 by means of the trident end 4.

When the scale is in operation, with the thermal drying chamberdisplaced, that is, during the drying-up of a sample under examination,the same scale will allow net weight measurement being made of the dampmaterials, thus making possible a continuous operation which has nothitherto been possible with apparatus of this kind. 7

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our saidinvention and what ner the same is to be performed, We declare that i .tWe claim is:

Moisture determination apparatus of the type wherein a Weighed sample isdried in an oven and recharacterized in that a single balance isprovided for the performance of both weighings, said apparatus includingan upper oven section, a medial balance-containing section and anethermost section containing a weighing an ior moist materials, meansfor predeterminedly altering the distance between said upper and saidmedial section, a substantially vertical connectng rod provided at theupper extremity thereof vith pan-engaging and loosingmeans and at thenether extremity thereof with said Weighing pan for moist materials,permanently affixed to said rod, engaging means at a medial portion ofaid rod, permanently connecting it to said 0 since, a pan for driedmaterials, situated within said upper oven section so as to beengageable by said pan-engaging means When said upper and medialsections are moved to- Wards one another, and means permanently withinsaid upper section for supporting said dried materia1 pan when saidupper and medial sections are moved away from each other, whereby saidlast separation of sections permits said balance to become operativesolely by said nether weighing pan, independently of said upper weighingpan.

HAAB,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,089,826 Emerson Mar. 10, lsl 'l2,047,765 Brabender July 14, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date424,544 Italy Aug. 28, 19-27

